Adri Sinclair's Blog - Posts Tagged "inspirational"

A thank you is in order.To the Followers & Friends & Family.

This week has been weird, amazing, and kind to me.

Three of my books hit the top #100 on Amazon, and I have had the most amazing reviews from kind strangers and kind people I have just met.

How to say thank you? I don't know, because for me, this goes beyond words.

I try to give back to the Indie Authors, helping where I can ... yet I always feel indebted for the support you guys afford me.

I really, truly, from my heart & soul, say thank you for the kindness shown by some, even for the not so kindness shown by others.

Thank you to every person who's read the books, liked them or hated them, you invested time and energy. It means AH LOT to this wannabe.

I may never be able to duplicate this feeling, or the results I have achieved via the generosity... so right now, I say thank you, and offer a hug.
xxx
Adri

Sometimes, you meet a person and you can't help but admire their skill and talent for story telling. This, is one of those times. Of course, I nabbed the lady in question in order to share the good feelz!

Tell us about yourself –
Ghouliana Stories (Bess Sturgis) is a professional storyteller and author. She writes and tells original “Not Too Scary Tales” designed to give thrills and delight but not fright for listeners of all ages.

When not in storytelling costume, Mrs. Sturgis is a professional artist and lecturer. She delights in sharing her knowledge of art, science, culture and history with children 12 and under at museums, libraries, art facilities and schools throughout the Human World.
“Ghouliana Stories’ The Shoe Troll” is the first book in her “Ghouliana Stories’ Series”.

An abbreviated version of the original “The Shoe Troll” tale was first told publically at the Wayne County Historical Museum, Richmond Indiana, in October 2010.

Additional tales told at various locations over many years, have been incorporated into “The Shoe Troll”.

The artwork on the cover of this book is a digital reproduction of an original painting entitled “Story Time” , created by the author.

It is an abstract representation of characters which appear in this book and in many other tales Ghouliana Stories tells.

The painting was purchased by a private collector in 2011.

What Genre do you write, and what genre do you enjoy reading?
I write fantasy novels for children.  My books are designed for young advanced readers (age 7+) who are academically equipped to handle reading “tween” and young adult books, but who are not emotionally ready to deal with many of the brutal themes of death and sacrifice found in those upper reading levels.

Also, older readers who are struggling to gain reading proficiency while avoiding the stigma of reading “baby books” find my books quite enjoyable.

Me: I would LOVE to write for children - I think it takes a special kind of person to do that, and the idea of working with people in need to learn to read without stigmas added to an already difficult situation is a profound ability! Hats off Lady! 

 

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
All of the books in my “Ghouliana Stories’ Series” are inspired by the tales I have written and told as a professional storyteller over the last four decades.

The titles for the next few books in this series have not been released yet by my editors, Vivien A. Hammer and Vincent D. Hammer.

Me: What more is there to add to this? I hang on the spoken word... I hope we'll get a video of you in action! That would be just super cool.

 

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Most people think it is very strange that I write huge portions of my initial drafts by hand on recycled paper, instead of composing at my keyboard.

But, I love the freedom that comes with smearing up clean sides of old used paper with fresh thoughts and ideas.

Another thing is that I love to write ridiculously early in the morning. Some of my most beloved characters have appeared after 3:30 am but before 7:00 am. These characters don’t come shuffling in half asleep, wearing night gowns and slippers. They appear fully formed and dressed to play!

Me: I love this so much - while I do not find it strange myself, I can see how some may. I also like the smell of paper and admirable that you use recycled. I'd love to camp in your mind for a while, meeting these characters!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Is this a trick question??? (Insert a large snarky smile here!)

Sorry about that… ☺

Everything I read influences me… The good writers force me to be more critical of my work; the poor writers show me “how not to do it”.

Me: HAHA! I hear ya!! *claps happily*

 

What are you working on now?
Currently I am working on the rest of the “Ghouliana Stories’ Series.”

Books 2-3 are in the re-write stage; to be released in summer and fall of 2015.

Books 4-7 are in rough draft stage with projected release date of 2016.

Books 8-12 are outlined and impatiently waiting their turn with anticipated release date of 2017.

Me: Busy busy busy lady! 

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My publisher, Kids at Heart Publishing, LLC., does a fine job of promoting my work through arranged signings, publicity events, speaking events and tours.

I do some self-promotion through my website, Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.

 Bes passed on a little bit from her book! Have a read!

Friends 1 : At the far edge of town in a gigantic old house with creaky doors and squeaky floors lived four very good friends: Copernicus, an enormous black cat, Galileo, a small brown bat, Newton, an extremely athletic spider and the house’s owner, Banchilla, a very powerful witch.

Now you might think that a cat, a bat and a spider were a strange combination of housemates for a witch to have, but the four friends had been together for a very long time.

Despite all their differences and the occasional near squishing, they seldom squabbled and although each one of them looked equally tasty to the others, none of them had ever had the slightest inclination to make a snack out of anyone else in the house. This made for a very good friendship!

My work can be purchased at the following locations:

 

http://www.ghoulianastories.com/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/GhoulianaStories

http://www.alibris.com/booksearch.detail?invid=12773863357

http://www.kidsatheartpublishing.com/html/book_catalog.html

https://www.linkedin.com/pub/ghouliana-stories/83/64a/201

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ghouliana-Stories/126991587471265

Thank you to all the readers and supporters of this blog, and thank you so much Bess Sturgis for taking the time to chat with us! Please be sure to follow this lady, and share the wealth of imaginative creations!

#BessSturgis #storyteller #etsy #kidsart

So it has been a while, but let's see if I can catch up.

S is for silence, that is my choice today. Sometimes I find it hard to keep my trap shut. This month, Mercury [for those who care, it is the planet of communication in the bigger scheme of things] is in retro-grade. I know many do not believe in this, and maybe it is a convenient excuse.... but it sure is having a terrible effect on me.

Where I normally would laugh, I growl at things I know is my own stupid mind interpreting it.
Where I normally would brush it aside and let it slide, I snip at people.
Where I normally would walk away and avoid confrontation, I put my fisty cuffs up.

And so forth and so on. Thankfully, I caught this early on in the month - and most of the communication damage has been avoided by just keeping silent. Unfortunately, some damage was still done *sigh* and some relationships are stressing because of it. I suppose, when you surround yourself with like-minded people - all sensitive to the world energy - casualties are to be expected.

But that being said... I have learned a lot about being silent. It is a huge comfort at times when things just get out of hand.
Silence is a MOTHER of an unspoken expletive when you're angry - there is no better way to say FUCK YOU than keeping quiet.
Silence is a TREMENDOUS comfort in hurtful times - there is nothing better than the silence  that says I GET IT.
Silence is a BRILLIANT support and show of loyalty - how many times have you kept your tongue to defend your bestie? Have you refused to speak ill of someone or blacken their person by simply keeping your mouth shut?
Silence is a SWEET show of love - when you stand and watch that special person doing something, and your heart is rejoycing and your mouth is smiling but you do not want to spoil the moment... so you keep silent.

I think, with so much going on in this world, no matter how hectic my mind is [and I assure you, inside  my head silence is impossible] ,
when my mouth is closed, my eyes open, my heart receptive, my soul interactive - Silence is the most creative word to express a moment, without chaos.

xxx
Adri

Good morning my lovelies!!
Tuesday already hey... but what a treat Do I have for us all today.
I met this gorgeous little lady through a group of Authors, and immediately she made me smile and agreed to a text interview.
Delayed, here is the result!

A Little bit about A.D First:

A.D. Ellis is somewhere in her mid-thirties and feels as if she’s just getting to a point in her life where she feels most like herself. She is a wife, mother, inner city alternative education school teacher from Indiana.

A.D. is a reader, a writer, and realistic to a fault. Impatient, sarcastic, cheap, creative, stoic, organized, and funny are words which could be used to describe her.

A lover of pizza, chocolate, unsweetened tea, but not a fan of super spicy food, crunchy onions, or celery.

A.D. is taller than many of her friends and family at 5’8”. She enjoys going to the gym for cardio and weight training.  When she has the time, A.D. loves to dig in and search for great deals at thrift stores.

She began writing her first novel in October 2013 and published it in April 2014.

Click to read>> A.D Ellis was kind enough to give us a Excerp from her work "Decker" - << Click to read.

You can get in touch with this lovely Lady over here: I encourage polite stalking. Just saying.




What does your writing process look like?
I usually let a story dance around in my head for a few weeks to a month (depending on what my life looks like at that time). Then I plot it out (just main plot points, nothing set in stone). Once I start writing, the characters just sort of take over and tell their story.
Do you have any strange writing habits (like standing on your head or writing in the shower)?
I have to have time to write, I can’t just sit down and pop something out in 15-20 minutes. I know some authors live to get 10 minutes of writing in on their lunch break at work. Not me, I need to know I’ve got a couple hours at least so I can submerse myself in the story.
What book do you wish you could have written?
Maybe one of the classics? I’d probably like to have written a great book for younger readers because I love to watch young ones find joy in reading (and before you ask, I *DO* have plans in mind for some books directed towards younger readers….someday….when the mothering and day job aren’t so demanding)

But, honestly, overall I’m happy to say I’ve written MY books. They are great stories, with fabulous characters and strong family bonds. I love them because they are a great mix of sweet and sexy, and they also are about people I’d love to have as family and friends.

Just as your books inspire authors, what authors have inspired you to write?
This list is honestly too long to even contemplate writing. From the very first books my mother read me as a toddler, to the books I was assigned to read in high school and college, to the traditionally published big name authors, to the fabulous indies I’ve met on this journey….every author I’ve ever read has had a part in my inspiration to write stories.
If you could cast your characters in the Hollywood adaptation of your book, who would play your characters?
Jesse Pavelka would be Nate Morgan (after publishing For Nicky, I found out that Jesse has a tattoo that says For my brother…this blew me away. If you ever read For Nicky, you’ll understand why this is unbelievable coincidence) Marco Dapper  would be Jeremiah Jordan, and Mateus Verdelho would be Kyle Martin.Me: So I stalked these folk in order to bring you visuals right- CAN YOU BELIEVE that the STUNNING Marco's FB page has less than 600 likes? LADIES & GENTS HELP THE MAN OUT! He is EVER so good to look at! GO on, click, like, drool, wipe, move on!
How important are names to you in your books? Do you choose the names based on liking the way it sounds or the meaning? Do you have any name choosing resources you recommend?
In my first book, I just had the twins’ names in mind (Nate and Nicky) from the very beginning. From that book to my latest release I try to make sure the name is something I like, it sounds good with other names, maybe has a nickname. In my newest series, the Nate’s twins are Decker (named after his mom’s maiden name) and Sawyer and they have their dad and uncle’s names for middle names.  I will use baby naming sites sometimes when I’m looking for first and last names that go well together.
What do you consider to be your best accomplishment?
In my personal life, I’m very proud of my teaching career and my children. In my writing journey, I’m proud of publishing 5 books (working on #6) while still being mom, wife, and teacher. I’m proud that my books touch readers, and that the stories stay true to real life.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I’d love to be writing full time. If that’s not happening, I’ll likely still be devoting my time and energy to helping inner city school children learn. I’ll have a 20-year-old daughter and 18-year-old son by that point….oh wow, yeah, let’s not go there right now.
Were you already a great writer? Have you always liked to write?
I don’t think I’m a great writer, and I definitely wasn’t already a great writer. However, I have been writing for a while (but it was mostly informational type articles). I never enjoyed assigned writing in high school and college because it felt forced. But, now that I’m writing what *I* want to write I really enjoy it.
What writing advice do you have for other aspiring authors?
Write, keep writing, don’t stop writing. It’s a very hard business. You will have ten downs for every one or two ups, but don’t give up. If you get stuck, take a break. That may mean a few hours or a few weeks or a few months, but if writing is in your heart, don’t stop. As long as *1* person reads and is touched by your words, you are a success.
If you didn't like writing books, what would you do for a living?
Even though I like writing books, it doesn’t pay the bills. I’m an inner city alternative education school teacher. If I hadn’t become a teacher, I think I’d like to work in the health field in possibly physical or occupational therapy.
Are you a plotter or a pantster?
I’m a plotter in the beginning and then I let the characters take over.
Do you read your reviews? Do you respond to them, good or bad? Do you have any advice on how to deal with the bad?
I read each and every one of them. I never respond to the negative reviews (lesson #1 when I started this thing). Sometimes, if a person posts their review on Facebook or the like I will comment or say thank you, but overall I don’t respond to reviews.

Getting past bad reviews is hard, but you have to thicken up your skin. A bad review stings and can stay with you for days, but I always try to find something worthwhile in the review that I can use (unless it’s just a plain mean review, I ignore those). It gets somewhat easier as time goes on.


What is your best marketing tip?
Being as visible as possible, connecting with readers, being involved and not just hawking books. I like to talk to readers, I consider many of my readers friends. Yes, I spend much of my time marketing, but I also like to just be a real person and connect with new and interesting people. This author journey has allowed me to do that like never before.
What is your least favorite part of the publishing / writing process?
The actual typing! I wish it would just flow from my head onto the page without actually typing the words. Rereads and edits and proofreading can be tedious and taxing as well.
Is there one subject you would never write about as an author? What is it?
I never say never. I’m writing a male/male contemporary romance right now. When I started this whole writing journey, I would have never thought I’d write a M/M, but when this new series grew in my head I already knew that Sawyer was gay (I’d known since I wrote him as a little boy) so I knew I had to be true to him and write a gay romance.
Do you have a favorite conference to attend? What is it?
I would love to attend a RWA conference and a RT conference. Maybe someday.
Is there a certain type of scene that's harder for you to write than others? Love? Action? Racy?
I have to be in the right frame of mind to write certain scenes. A sad scene finds me typing through tears. A racy scene has me locking the door so I’m safe from my kids busting in. I love to write a funny scene; I find myself giggling throughout.

Is this your first book? How many books have you written prior (if any?)
I have 5 books published and I’m working on #6 with #7 and #8 planned to round out the Torey Hope saga.
What are you working on now? What is your next project? I’m currently writing Sawyer (Torey Hope: The Later Years). It’s a male/male contemporary romance although it continues the real-life, emotional, strong family bonds in my previous books.

With the official stuff out of the way, I switched things up with A.D - and how much fun was this? AH LOT!

1. Print book vs Ebook - which do you prefer?
I love print, but ebooks are easier (especially when I do most of my reading at night in bed)

2. Tell us something about you that very few people know.
I don’t have tons of secrets….I have 5 tattoos but most people know that. I terrified of deep open water. I don’t like the dark.

3. Do you talk out loud to your characters?
If yes, which one and what about? Not so much out loud, but in my head I play scenes with them.

4. Have you ever gained an injury as a writer? [PAPERCUTS COUNTS!]
I often find myself with wrist/hand pain when I’ve been typing too long.

5. What is under your bed?
Um, remember my fear of the dark? Well, under my bed is a dark and scary place. I haven’t ventured there in a very long time.

6. Do you ever read your own work and forget you wrote it?
Yes! There have been times when a reader points something out and I have to go back and reread to refresh my memory!

7. Pen or Pencil?
Pen

8. Do you sometimes mix up a character with friends and family?
No, but I *DO* have to have a family tree in front of me when writing so that I keep the large families in my books straight.

9. Tell us your most favourite snackfood & drink.
I love gummy bears, chocolate covered peanuts, unsweetened tea.

10. Do you have other hobbies? What are they?
I love to read, go to the gym, spend time with family.

 

Other works by Author & Events, can be found here: